Portions of Speed the Ride roller coaster at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas which operated for 11 years are getting relocated to a new location at the Akita Retail Center on Las Vegas Boulevard South, across from Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

Breslin Builders is working with Premier Rides, to move the existing coaster from its present location, reusing as much of the ride as possible. The mid-section will be redesigned to work within and over the existing site and parking lot conditions, and allow for new and exciting curves and bends to be added to the ride. The original 224 foot vertical tower will be relocated and provide the reverse point for the coaster. Breslin Builders is providing design and associated engineering services for the site and coaster station.

Speed the Ride was closed in May 2011 along with the Sahara Hotel. Sahara owners SBE Entertainment who acquired the hotel-casino in 2007 said, at the time, that it was “no longer economically viable” to operate the nearly 60-year-old casino — one of the first on the strip. Since then SBE has announced a $744 million planned renovation with a grand reopening scheduled for 2014, however, the existing coaster did not fit in with the vision for the redesigned hotel.

Although complete plans have yet to be announced, Akita Plaza is also home to the 500-foot SkyVue Ferris Wheel currently under construction. The coaster and Ferris Wheel along with restaurants and retail outlets are expected to open by summer 2013.

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